Aussie Wii FAQ – Everything you need to know

During the past year, we have come to learn a lot about Nintendos next home console. From the beginning when it was touted as a revolution to the many rumours that have surrounded the console, we have constantly craved any information that would shed some light on the mysterious console. Now that the Wii launch is just a mere two months away, we at Vooks thought it was the right time to write up a FAQ regarding all things Wii. We hope this FAQ will be helpful to those who do not know much about Wii or are a bit unsure about some of the specifics. We will answer the questions that are, of course, most frequently asked and those that we fill are important to be answered. Without further delay, we bring you the Wii FAQ.

Head inside for the FAQ! Table of Contents

Background

What is Wii?
What is so unique about Wii?
Why has Nintendo opted for a less powerful console?

Australian Launch

When does Wii launch?
How much will Wii cost?

Hardware

What are the specifications of Wii?
Does the Wii play DVDs?
How do you play GameCube games on Wii?
What comes with Wii?
Can I play import game on my Wii?
What peripherals will Wii use?
How much will Wii peripherals and extra controllers cost?

Software

What are Wii’s launch titles?
What developers are on board?
What has happened to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption? Wasn’t it a launch title?

Virtual Console

What is the Virtual Console?
What Virtual Console games will be avaliable at launch?

Wii Online

Will Wii offer online services?
What is WiiConnect24?
What are Wii Channels?

What is a Mii?

What is Wii?

Wii (pronounced “”We””) is the latest home entertainment system from Nintendo. Wii will feature innovative methods of play with the revolutionary controller that is shaped like a standard remote control.

What is so unique about Wii?

Unlike the competition, Wii takes doesn’t focus on polygon pushing and instead focuses on what matters the gameplay. Wii features an entirely new way to play games via the new controller that senses 360 degrees of movement. What this means is you can swing the control as if it were a tennis racquet, sword, or even a fishing rod. On top of the new remote-styled control — dubbed the Wiimote — is a second control which houses an analogue stick and several buttons. This second control — dubbed the nunchuk — can also sense movement allowing both controls to be used simultaneously as you play your game.

Wii also features a Virtual Console; and WiiConnect24, an intuitive online system.

Why has Nintendo opted for a less powerful console?

Unlike the competition Microsoft and $ony, Nintendo has gone on the record to say that the Wii is not about how pretty the games look but how immersed you are in the experience. While Wii will still be more powerful than Nintendo’s Gamecube, its attraction comes from the way it is re-inventing the gaming industry by giving us — the gamers — more power over what we can do and experience. As history has already proven, the specs are not the only major player in the overall success of the system. The Nintendo DS, while substantially less powerful than $ony’s PSP, has managed to become the fastest selling handheld ever with its broad range of software and unique way of playing.

When does Wii launch?

The Wii will launch in Australia and New Zealand on the 7th of December, no more than a few weeks after the American launch on November the 19th.

How much will Wii cost?

The Wii will cost $399 and first party games will retail for $99.95. We expect many offers for the Wii as the launch date approaches so keep an eye out over at our Wii Preorders section.

What are the specifications of Wii?

The official specifications for Wii are currently unknown. Though many rumours have surfaced on the Internet regarding specifications, at the present moment Nintendo have not released any official specifications. It is common knowledge Wii will not be as powerful as Xbox360 or Playstation 3 as Nintendo’s philosophy emphasises gameplay over graphics. We do know some things about Wii specs. It includes a CPU (IBM) and GPU (ATI) codenamed Broadway and Hollywood respectively. Resolution is up to 480p and it also includes WiFi connectivity 802.11 b/g. Wii also includes a 512mb flash drive, an optical drive for GameCube and Wii games and 2 SD memory expansion slots.

Does the Wii play DVDs?

No it doesn’t. It was originally planned as an add-on feature but has since been dropped. The reason behind this is Nintendo thought DVD players were common and cheap enough for everyone to have one, it wasn’t worth the extra costs involved in having it included in the Wii.

How do you play GameCube games on Wii?

Insert your GameCube controller into the provided controller slots at the top of the Wii console and insert a GameCube disc into the tray. The game will load up and you will be on your way to gaming bliss. Simple as that. Alternatively you can access the Wii Channels and select the game from there.

What comes with Wii?

1 x Wii console
1 x Wii controller strap
1 x Wii Remote
1 x Nunchuck controller
1 x AC adaptor
1 x AV cable
1 x Stand
1 x Support plate
1 x Sensor bar
1 x Sensor bar stand
2 x Battery (AA)
Bonus Wii Sports title avaliable at launch

Can I play import games on my Wii

Even though early reports from Nintendo of America stated that the Wii will be region free, meaning you could play an American game on your Australian console, or a Japanese game on your UK console it has now been confirmed that this is not the case. The Wii will be locked with the follow regions.

NTSC/J For Japanese games on a Japanese System
NTSC For North American games on a North American System
PAL For European or Australia games.

GameCube games and Virtual Console games will also be region locked.

What peripherals will Wii use?

So far, Nintendo has announced a Retro Controller that can be used when playing older games you download through the Virtual Console (see ‘What it the Virtual Console’). Also, Nintendo has announced a lightgun attachment that is still in the early stages of development. This attachment is likely to be used for the rumoured Duck Hunt remake and other similar shooting titles.

How much will Wii peripherals and extra controllers cost?

Nintendo has not released any pricing information for extra controllers or peripherals.

What are Wii’s launch titles?

Wii is said to launch with a massive 28 titles. Whether or not some of these will see Australian shores within the launch period remains to be seen. Confirmed launch titles are:

Wii Sports
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Excite Truck

Other titles include:

Avatar: The Last Airbender
Barnyard
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Blitz: The League
Call of Duty 3
Cars
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Elebits
Far Cry
GT Pro Series
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Madden NFL 07
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Metal Slug Anthology
Monster 4×4 World Circuit
Need for Speed: Carbon
Open Season
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Trauma Center: Second Opinion

What developers are on board?

There is plenty of support for Wii at the moment. The following developers are committed to developing Wii games:

Ubisoft
EA
Acclaim
Retro Studios
Square Enix
Sega
Atlus
Raven Software
Treyarch
THQ
Toys for Bob
Activision

What has happened to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption? Wasn’t it a launch title

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption has been pushed back for a 2007 release. Nintendo want gamers to have something new every month for the initial few months of the consoles release.

What is the Virtual Console?

The Virtual Console is an online service that will allow Wii owners to download games from the NES, SNES, N64, Sega Mega Drive and TurboGrafx-16. This means you can download and play classic games that you want to revisit once more or didn’t get a chance to play back in the day. Nintendo has not confirmed every game will from these past consoles will be included to download, however expect to see plenty of classics such as those from the Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog series.

The price of each game is still unknown.

What Virtual Console games will be avaliable at launch?

Confirmed titles so far include:

Donkey Kong
The Legend of Zelda
Super Mario 64
Super Mario World

Will Wii offer online services?

Yes, Wii offers a free online WiFi service where you can play games against people from around the world for free. Wii also offers WiiConnect24 (see What is WiiConnect24?)

What is WiiConnect24?

WiiConnect24 is an online feature for Wii that will permit Wii to be connected to the Internet at all times. It will even stay connected to the Internet while in standby mode. What this might allow Wii owners to do is download extra material for a game (e.g. characters or maps) any time during the day or night. It is possible that Nintendo will send other material through the service too, perhaps even game demos. It’s also rumoured data could be downloaded that could be transferred to your Nintendo DS.

What are the Wii Channels?

Wii Channels is Nintendo’s answer to entice non gamers to use the Wii. Wii Channels is the main hub for the Wii and gives you access to games, photos, Mii and much more. The Channels included so far are Wii Menu (the main hub), Mii Channel, News Channel, Forecast Channel, Disc Channel, Photo Channel, Virtual Console Games, Wii Shop Channel and the Internet Channel.

What is a Mii?

A Mii is part of the Mii Channel and is basically a personal avatar creator, where you can create a 3D avatar to closely represent your face on a simple caricature. Games such as Wii Sports will feature your Mii and you will play with them onscreen. Miis can also be put on your Wii Remote and taken to another Wii so you can use your Mii at a mate’s house.

Miis can also connect online and create a Mii Parade with all your friends.

If you have any questions that you would like to add to this FAQ, please e-mail us.